LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) – Standard security measures were not followed after an off-duty Santa Monica police officer was allowed to board a flight to Taiwan at Los Angeles International Airport with a handgun in her carry-on bag, authorities said Thursday. Santa Monica police officials were notified last week that Officer Noell Grant was not allowed to leave Taiwan after she entered the country on April 13 in possession of a firearm, according to authorities. (losangeles.cbslocal.com) Más...

The offender should be charged as any other individual. It is a known rule or law that handguns cannot be allowed on commercial aircraft. TSA blew it. The off-duty officer blew it by being either ignorant of the law, ignorant of the need to remove a handgun from a purse, or guilty of trying to bypass a rule or law of which (s)he and everyone is well aware. No slack. You would never want to discharge a firearm in an aircraft at FL370.

For the most part, I agree with you 100%. However, your last sentence seems to indicate to me that you've seen far too many Hollywood movie depictions of what happens to a pressurized aircraft from a bullet hole. It is nothing at all like Hollywood likes to show it.

I'm a scientist. I understand depressurization. A bullet hole would not cause a drastic problem with air pressure. But wings and tanks are loaded with fuel. Engines can easily be damaged. Aircraft "skin" is quite thin and not strong enough to stop even a small caliber bullet like a 9mm or .380. I repeat, you do not want to discharge a firearm inside an aircraft.

THIS I agree with. It was the "FL370" in your previous statement that made me think you were referencing Hollywood depictions of explosive decompression following a single bullet through the skin of the aircraft.

As I read that she was heading for Taiwan, it was clear that getting through the TSA was not going to be her biggest problem. The TSA misses lots of guns as they hone in on shampoo and water bottles to confiscate. As long as the cockpit is secured and at least one pilot armed, there is little chance of an inflight takeover. Let the passengers bring what they want to protect themselves on board as well as where they are going. One or two bad eggs would quickly learn that 50 or 60 people on board may feel the other way. Its a shame that our current laws give such power and control to the bad guys.

don't want anybody "carrying" on board except sky marshall... don't want to be onboard when a firearm discharges at altitude.. I carry... this person blew it... shouldn't be allowed to carry anymore she unless goes back through a thorough training program... officer or not...

Obviously a problem here with training and awareness or intent to carry which is a big problem with LE - sort of like a pacifier. I was Military Police in 'Nam and a deputy for over 20 years. You don't make those stupid mistakes - ever.